Nance and Buttar Succeeding as Yin and Yang Duo

By: Justin Felisko
August 17, 2018

NASHVILLE – Dakota Buttar and Cody Nance were hanging out in Canada a few days after the Calgary Stampede when Buttar turned and looked at Nance.

“This is your year,” Buttar said.

Nance appreciated the compliment, but he looked back at Buttar with a look of bewilderment.

“No, you are still in striking distance too,” Nance replied.

Nance – the highest ranked American in the world standings (5) – and Buttar – the highest ranked Canadian in the world standings (13) – are both very much alive in this year’s World Championship race.

“I hadn’t really thought about it until then,” Buttar admitted. “We were talking about it, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

Those few days in Canada were a prime example of the yin and yang duo and how Nance and Buttar have developed a strong friendship over the last year.

Nance has always struggled with keeping his emotional motor running at a base level, whereas Buttar has sometimes approached the sport with not enough aggression and belief in himself.

The two have become a perfect pairing since Nance’s wife, Korie, and Buttar’s girlfriend, Caitlin, became friends last year.

The two women decided to get dinner last season after an event one night and, just like that the two bull riders, were pulling up a seat at the table and hitting up a conversation.

“Cody has more of a high, intense attitude and I have more of a low attitude,” Dakota said. “Cody brings me up and I can kind of bring him down.”

 
Cody added, “We balance each other well. He is really calm and sometimes needs to be fired up. Sometimes I am really fired up and need to be calmed down.”

This weekend will feature plenty of emotions for Nance as the Paris, Tennessee, cowboy will be the No. 1 fan favorite inside Bridgestone Arena at the Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires.

Nance always has a strong contingent of fans in Nashville as he grew up two hours west.

The 30-year-old has emerged as a World Champion contender by going 28-for-55 (50.91 percent) with two victories, a 15/15 Bucking Battle victory and six Top-5s.

Last weekend was Nance’s third third-place finish of the season and he heads into Nashville 514.7 points behind world leader Kaique Pacheco.

Nance has a first-round bye and will take on the winner of the Ryan Dirteater vs. J.B. Mauney in Bracket B.

Fans can watch all the action from Rounds 1 & 2 on Friday night on CBS Sports Network beginning at 10 p.m. ET.

“To be able to slow down like Dakota does, and be patient on them bulls really helps,” Nance said. “You still have to be aggressive and that is what he takes from me. That aggression. I take that calmness from him. It has worked out.”

Buttar takes on Edgar Durazo in the first round of Bracket C. Buttar has drawn Uncle Gangster (0-0, PBR UTB).

A victory from Buttar in Nashville could potentially cut the two-time Canadian Pro Rodeo Association champion’s 1,717.5-point deficit of Pacheco in half.

One rider can win anywhere from 810 world points to as many as 1,205 points if he wins the tournament and the Ride Score Championship.

Buttar is 16-for-48 (33.33 percent) with seven Top-10 finishes.

No Canadian bull rider has won the world title or finished in the Top 5 of the world standings.

 
“I honestly haven’t been thinking about anything really,” Buttar said. “I am just coming to get my bulls rode and having fun. Last year, I wasn’t riding real good and I had to worry about the points all year. This year I am feeling more comfortable with where I am sitting and not really worrying about anything.”

Buttar said he has always approached the sport with an under-the-radar, low-emotion style.

When he was winning the CPRA title, he would often get ready behind the chutes instead of in a standard locker room.

He prefers to keep to himself on gameday.

“I have always have kept to myself and did my own thing,” Buttar said. “Shoot, I don’t know. I have always been the quiet guy in the corner. It doesn’t really bother me. I have always been that way.”

Buttar may be keeping a low profile, but Nance sees potential in the 25-year-old.

“He is a sleeper,” Nance concluded. “He is always going to go out there, and he can ride any kind of bull. He can ride them in any direction. He has great balance. He doesn’t make really huge moves. He really stays patient and lets the bull go ahead. He just does what he needs to do.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

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